True confession: we heart the Food Network something fierce, so we’re not completely oblivious to the fact that one of Austin’s own chefs, Brad Sorenson of ASTI Trattoria, appeared on the recent season of The Next Food Network Star. Although he didn’t win the show, he nonetheless became a fan favorite and helped solidify Austin’s bourgeoning place in the culinary world. more ›

Have you been wanting to eat out at a great restaurant lately but just needed a good reason? If so, then we've got just the reason to get you out of the house tonight. Dining for Life is Monday and Tuesday night and is a great, and very easy, way to help benefit Aids Services of Austin. More than 60 of Austin's best restaurants donate 15% of their dinner proceeds to AIDS Services of... more ›

The Zagat Restaurant Survey, bastion of epicurean exorbitance, has finally descended upon Texas. Abnormally long enough so that it won't easily fit into your back pocket, these glossy red books review hundreds of the "best" restaurants in a city, culling the frothiest excerpts from thousands of voluntarily-submitted reviews by gluttonous gourmands in each city. These are then slopped together with a few select conjunctions, and topped off with individual ratings for Food, Decor, and Service, based on a somewhat ill-conceived 30 point scale. Overly self-indulgent though it may seem at times, Zagat (pronounced "Zuh-GAT") served us well back in San Francisco and New York, where each neighborhood alone contained more restaurants than we could ever afford or manage to sample. more ›

F R I D A Y [ 13 ] [party] Box Magazine, purveyors of tastefully-obscured softcore porn, are throwing another swank launch party to celebrate the release of Issue 2 - this time at The Peacock. DJs, "debaucherous times," and a special performance by Skinny Boy Burlesque. [music] Heard on Veronica Mars Featuring David Garza, Fire Marshals of Bethlehem, Daylight Titans, and Rite Flyers at Stubb's BBQ [in-store] AUX CD Release Show at End of... more ›

Frontera Fest is here! Austinist is, ahem, a bit behind with this news (blame it on the holidays), as tickets have been on sale for two days! (You can get 'em by calling 479-PLAY.) The Short Fringe starts this coming Tuesday, 1/10 at Hyde Park Theatre, followed close on its heels by the Long Fringe, which begins the following Tuesday, 1/17 at the Blue Theatre. Oh, and perhaps most exciting of all, there's an... more ›